Abstract: An online booking system caters for the corporate booking of the travel of a number of people to a single destination or multiple destinations by providing a file with details of the trip destination, the desired time of arrival, the people involved and the criteria which override the normal corporate travel criteria. The booking system then merges this with the corporate travel criteria and any external profile criteria of the individuals, searches for suitable flights and makes incomplete bookings for individuals to the destination by connecting to a Global Distribution System (GDS) with multiple threads for parallel bookings. The system reviews the collation of the individual but incomplete bookings and, if they do not meet travel policies cancelling the totality forthwith and starting again. If the collation of the incomplete individual bookings meets travel policies completing the totality of bookings and ticketings.

Abstract: A travel booking system abstracts the user from a travel search of web and internet searches initiated by the user and the search result of those searches to present the user with a consistent interface for both entry and results. As part of the abstraction the search introduces elements of one or more traveller profiles to delineate the searches. The user may investigate the search results for a trip or alternate route options returned by a search to further direct the search or to book a search result and when a booked itinerary is returned may load this to a traveller's device together with other assistance for phases of the trip.

Abstract: A system and method to determine and utilize a chronotype classification for a user. A chronotype classification for the user is obtained through methods such as a questionnaire. A waveform associated with alertness levels at different times is created based on the chronotype classification. The alertness levels from the waveform are displayed to the user on a wearable device.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a main body, a traction arrangement defining a ground plane and an articulated arm. The articulated arm includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section, wherein the upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint, and wherein the lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The upper arm section includes a pair of generally parallel arm members which are connected between the shoulder joint and the elbow joint and which are configured to define a yoke at the elbow joint at which the lower arm section is connected. The vacuum cleaning system equipped with a robotic arm that is able to bend and flex due to the pivotable upper and lower arm portions and has flexibility in how the robotic arm is driven and how suction is routed through the machine.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: A surface treating system including a robotic unit including a main body, a traction arrangement that defines a ground plane of the robotic unit, and an articulated arm is provided. The articulated arm includes an upper arm section and a lower arm section. The upper arm section is attached to the main body at a shoulder joint. The lower arm section is attached to the upper arm section at an elbow joint, and an end effector is defined at a distal end of the lower arm section. The articulated arm is movable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position through a generally vertical plane of motion. In the fully deployed position, the articulated arm is configured so that substantially all the lower arm section and at least some of the upper arm section extends parallel with and directly adjacent to the ground plane.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning system including a robotic unit including a traction arrangement, a docking interface and an articulated arm defining an end effector. The end effector includes a suction tool. The robotic unit defines a suction flow path which extends from the suction tool to the docking interface. The system further includes a handheld vacuum cleaner configured to be docked with the docking interface, the handheld vacuum cleaner including a vacuum motor for drawing air through the suction flow path when docked with the docking interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a contrast level of an image is provided. One or more processors execute instructions stored in one or more memory devices which configure the one or more processors to obtain an image from an image source, extract intensity values for each pixel of the obtained image, calculate a probability distribution for the obtained image representing a number of pixels at each unique pixel value, determine, from the calculated probability distribution, a spread value representing a series pixel values including at least a predetermined number of pixels at each pixel value in the series of pixel values and classify the obtained image a member of one of three classes based on the calculated probability distribution and the determined spread value.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first data associated with a first sleep session of a user. The method also includes determining a first set of sleep-related parameters associated with the first sleep session of the user based at least in part on the first data. The method also includes receiving second data associated with a second sleep session of the user. The method also includes determining a second set of sleep-related parameters associated with the second sleep session of the user based at least in part on the second data. The method also includes receiving third data associated with a variable condition. The method also includes causing one or more indications associated with the variable condition and the first sleep session, the second sleep session, or both to be communicated to the user.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for: (1) alternatingly in time inflating and deflating a sealed compartment that includes: a first flexible and deformable seal connected to a pressure control chamber; (2) alternatingly in time pumping a gas into a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a first piston in a first partially sealed cylinder of a double acting kinematic cylinder, the double acting kinematic cylinder further comprising a second partially sealed cylinder, including: a second piston and the pressure control chamber, the pressure control chamber both on a first side of the second piston and within the second partially sealed cylinder; and (3) transferring a force from the first piston to the second piston via a rigid coupler affixed at a first end to the first piston and at a second end to the second piston, such as to alternating inflate and deflate a seal.

Abstract: A robot gripper including: a base section; a first finger connected to the base section by a base section joint and n phalanxes; a second finger connected to the base section by a base section joint and n+m phalanxes, each phalanx of the second finger being connected to an adjacent phalanx by a phalanx joint and the first and second fingers being opposable to one other; wherein n and m are positive integers.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for: (1) alternatingly in time inflating and deflating a sealed compartment that includes: a first flexible and deformable seal connected to a pressure control chamber; (2) alternatingly in time pumping a gas into a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a first piston in a first partially sealed cylinder of a double acting kinematic cylinder, the double acting kinematic cylinder further comprising a second partially sealed cylinder, including: a second piston and the pressure control chamber, the pressure control chamber both on a first side of the second piston and within the second partially sealed cylinder; and (3) transferring a force from the first piston to the second piston via a rigid coupler affixed at a first end to the first piston and at a second end to the second piston, such as to alternating inflate and deflate a seal.

Abstract: An online booking system caters for the corporate booking of the travel of a number of people to a single destination or multiple destinations by providing a file with details of the trip destination, the people involved and the criteria which override the normal corporate travel criteria. The booking system then merges this with the normal corporate travel criteria and any external profile criteria of the individuals and books individuals to the destination before issuing the bookings.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying a contrast level of an image is provided. One or more processors execute instructions stored in one or more memory devices which configure the one or more processors to obtain an image from an image source, extract intensity values for each pixel of the obtained image, calculate a probability distribution for the obtained image representing a number of pixels at each unique pixel value, determine, from the calculated probability distribution, a spread value representing a series pixel values including at least a predetermined number of pixels at each pixel value in the series of pixel values and classify the obtained image a member of one of three classes based on the calculated probability distribution and the determined spread value.

Abstract: A travel booking system abstracts the user from a travel search of web and internet searches initiated by the user and the search result of those searches to present the user with a consistent interface for both entry and results. As part of the abstraction the search introduces elements of one or more traveller profiles to delineate the searches. The user may investigate the search results for a trip or alternate route options returned by a search to further direct the search or to book a search result and when a booked itinerary is returned may load this to a traveller's device together with other assistance for phases of the trip.

Abstract: A supercharging arrangement for an internal combustion engine. The supercharging arrangement comprises a supercharger having a rotational drive input, and a transmission having a rotational drive input to receive drive from an internal combustion engine, and a rotational drive output connected to the input of the supercharger. The transmission includes a variator operatively connected between the input and the output of the transmission, which variator has an output that is driven at an operating ratio from an input. A control system operates to cause an engine to deliver an amount of torque that is indicated by the state of an input to the control system. The control system is further operative to set the operating ratio of the variator.

Abstract: A supercharging arrangement for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The supercharging arrangement comprises a supercharger having a rotational drive input, and a transmission having a rotational drive input to receive drive from an internal combustion engine, and a rotational drive output connected to the input of the supercharger. The transmission includes a variator operatively connected between the input and the output of the transmission, which variator has an output that is driven at an operating ratio from an input. There is a control system that operates to cause an engine to deliver an amount of torque that is indicated by the state of an input to the control system. The control system is further operative to set the operating ratio of the variator.

Abstract: A sample vessel retention mechanism for an inverted microscope having an optical objective and a scanning probe microscope (SPM) head. The inverted microscope includes a platform for supporting a sample vessel, in which is formed an aperture sized to provide a passage for the objective of the inverted microscope to approach the sample vessel from below. The retention mechanism provides a vacuum region formed in the platform, with the vacuum region being barometrically coupled with a vacuum generator. Establishment of a vacuum in the vacuum region prevents or substantially reduces oscillation of the sample vessel floor in an operating frequency range of the SPM head.

Abstract: A fluid container having a body, a handle arranged in a top section of the body, a flow trigger in the handle, and a safety trigger that interacts with the flow trigger and prevents activation of the flow trigger. A vent assembly is arranged in the body and is configured to b activated by the safety trigger to vent the body. A spout assembly is movably coupled to the body and rotates between a use position and a storage position. A first valve opens as the spout assembly is moved from the storage position to the use position and a second valve is arranged upstream of the first valve to control fluid flow into the spout assembly. A linkage mechanism is arranged between th flow trigger and the second valve and configured to open the second valve when the flow trigger is activated and the safety trigger is released.

Abstract: An LED luminaire with an integrated battery backup is divided into a hidden infrastructure portion and a decorative body portion. The luminaire body has a main lighting deck with two separate LED arrays mounted thereon and a decorative skirt extending from the main lighting deck. A first LED array is operative on regular and emergency power, and a second LED array is operative on battery power. A diffuser panel is received over the main lighting deck. The hidden infrastructure portion includes a light fixture housing configured and arranged to be mounted within a building infrastructure, an emergency battery backup assembly received within the light fixture housing wall, and a housing fixture bracket secured within the light fixture housing to support the emergency backup assembly in the upper portion of the light fixture housing.